Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly primary election for Surulere Constituency I in Lagos State, aspirant Barakat Odunuga-Bakare has disclosed that several contestants in the race have withdrawn in her favour, leaving the incumbent lawmaker, Desmond Elliot, as the only remaining challenger.

Odunuga-Bakare made the disclosure on Sunday while formally declaring her intention to contest for the party’s ticket ahead of the primary scheduled for Wednesday.

She said the political build-up to the exercise had been competitive, noting that she initially faced about five to six other aspirants in the contest, most of whom have now stepped down and pledged their support for her.

“Quite a lot of politicking went on between the incumbent and me. We had about five or six people who were contesting as well. But the others stepped down and are supporting me now. They are all here,” she said.

According to her, only the sitting lawmaker, Hon. Desmond Elliot, has chosen to remain in the race.

“The only person who didn’t succumb and insists on going to the primary is Honourable Desmond Elliot. I wish him all the best, and I wish myself luck too, and I’m praying that on Wednesday, I’m the one who emerges as the candidate for the Lagos State Assembly, Surulere Constituency 1,” she added.

Addressing APC members in the constituency, Odunuga-Bakare called for a large turnout on election day, assuring supporters that adequate security arrangements would be in place.

She urged party members to disregard any claims discouraging participation, insisting that the process would be conducted in a free and fair manner.

“My word to the people of Surulere is that they should come out to vote on Wednesday. The election will be free and fair because they have been going about telling people not to come out to vote. I assure the people of Surulere that there will be maximum security,” she said.

Odunuga-Bakare also appealed for unity after the primary, stressing the need for all party members to support whoever eventually emerges as the candidate.

“I’m also pleading with the people of Surulere that whoever emerges, whether it is me or not, should be supported, and we should work for that person,” she said.

She recalled her previous attempt at the seat, noting that she was defeated by the incumbent in the last election, but maintained that her current bid reflects the backing of constituents.

“In the last polls, I lost to the incumbent. I’m here today at the wish of the people of Surulere,” she added.

Meanwhile, Desmond Elliot, in a video shared on his X account on Sunday, alleged intimidation within the constituency and claimed that his security aides had been withdrawn ahead of the primary election.

Surulere APC Primary: All aspirants stepped down for me except Desmond Elliot – Odunuga-Bakare

Residents of Kogi Central on Saturday trooped out in large numbers to welcome former Kogi State Governor and frontline All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant, Alhaji Yahaya Bello…

The post Kogi Central residents welcome Yahaya Bello ahead of APC primary appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Taraba State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has rejected the Federal Ministry of Education’s decision to waive the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requirements for admission into colleges of education.

The state chairman of the union, Nathan Solomon, disclosed the union’s position while addressing journalists on Monday in Jalingo.

According to Solomon, the resolution was reached during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Union of Teachers held in Abuja, where members strongly condemned the policy.

He stated that the union was not consulted before the decision was announced and called for its immediate reversal.

Solomon argued that many countries across the world place a high value on teachers by providing incentives and special attention to the profession, warning that the policy could further weaken the education sector in Nigeria.

“The decision will negatively affect the standard and dignity of the teaching profession,” he said.

The NUT chairman also urged stakeholders in the education sector to reconsider the policy in the interest of national development.

He further called on JAMB to take the necessary steps to safeguard the quality of education in the country.

Taraba NUT rejects waiver of JAMB requirement for colleges of education admissions

The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, has urged the opposition parties to emulate the party’s style of credible competition and ideal shadow poll.

Afuye said the reports across the country on the peaceful and credible outcomes of the senatorial and House of Representatives primaries conducted by the APC indicated that the APC is steely committed to the promotion of internal democracy and party politics.

She made the assertions in Ikere Ekiti, after the conclusion of voting at Atiba/Aafin Ward in the APC senatorial primary held in Ekiti South Senatorial District on Monday.

Prominent contenders in the senatorial race in Ekiti South are the current occupant of the seat and spokesman of the Senate, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi and an ex-member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Faparusi.

Speaking after the primary, Mrs Afuye saluted party members for their peaceful conduct, urging the contenders to accept the outcome of the election with equanimity.

She stressed the imperative of contenders refraining from making divisive comments that could provoke their backers to take actions that could trigger violence and actions capable of disrupting the peace of the state.

She described the few concerns raised during the House of Representatives primaries held on Saturday as part of the democratic process, saying matters raised will be looked into by the party and necessary actions will be taken to assuage the feelings of all members.

Mrs Afuye lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his neutrality in the primary and overt rejection of the incidences of name-dropping being perpetrated by some of the contenders.

“No political process is absolutely perfect. There could be some issues, and when raised, the party has a way of handling them. APC is a party of justice and fairplay. Nobody will be shortchanged in this primary.

“Governor Biodun Oyebanji has demonstrated neutrality in this election. He believes in the will of the people, rather than imposition.

“Whatever happens in this primary should be taken as a family affair. Infighting won’t take us anywhere. If you lose an election today, that doesn’t mean you can’t win tomorrow.

“And those who win should embrace other contenders. That is the beauty of democracy”.

APC Primaries: We are teaching opposition parties ideal internal democracy – Ekiti Deputy Gov

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has condemned the exclusion of Engr. Tein T.S. Jack-Rich from the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Rivers West Senatorial District…

The post NYCN condemns exclusion of Jack-Rich from APC senatorial primary in Rivers appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Calabar Zone, on Monday raised the alarm over what it described as the Federal Government’s deliberate neglect of Nigeria’s university system, warning that another wave of industrial unrest may soon hit public campuses if urgent steps are not taken to implement the 2025 FGN/ASUU Agreement. The Zonal Coordinator […]

The post ASUU to FG: Honour agreement now or face industrial action appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Lagos State Government says it has intensified safety enforcement, emergency response coordination, and welfare support for security personnel as part of efforts to strengthen public safety across the state. The Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, disclosed this during the 2026 ministerial briefing held on Monday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press […]

The post Lagos govt sanctions 840 facilities over safety violations appeared first on Tribune Online.

More Nigerian tech founders are now showing interest in the Lekki Free Trade Zone because of the incentives attached to businesses operating there.

The post How to register a tech startup in the Lekki free trade zone appeared first on Tribune Online.

Health sector unions in Akwa Ibom State have suspended their industrial action following the intervention of the state government.

Recall that the unions in the wake of alleged molestation and assault of some members particularly Prof. Eyo Ekpe of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, embarked on an indefinite strike which had lasted up to one week.  

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, worried by the development and its attendant negative impact on sick patients and those who may have need to access medical care, convened a joint stakeholders’ meeting on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Old EXCO Chambers, Governor’s Office, Uyo.

The meeting, which was chaired by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, had representatives of the state government, EFCC, security agencies, management of UUTH, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, JOHESU, NANNM and other health sector unions in attendance.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, made available to journalists on Monday, stakeholders unanimously condemned the altercation describing it as “unfortunate and entirely avoidable”.

The EFCC, through its representatives at the meeting, apologized to all affected parties, including the Chief Medical Director of UUTH, Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, the assault victim, Prof. Eyo Ekpez JOHESU Chairman, Mr. Akanubong Asuquo, NMA Chairman, Prof. Aniekan Peter and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives over what was described as the unruly conduct of its operatives during the operation at the hospital.

The Commission assured that a formal apology would be issued by its headquarters and pledged that such an occurrence would not repeat itself.

Security and law enforcement agencies were advised to exercise restraint and observe due process in matters involving healthcare institutions in order to avoid disruption of critical medical services.

The meeting reaffirmed the sanctity of hospitals and stressed that the safety of patients, healthcare workers, and visitors must be respected and protected at all times.

The stakeholders also resolved that government should actively participate in identifying individuals behind the alleged fake medical report connected to the matter and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.

The Akwa Ibom State Government commended the chairman of the EFCC for ordering an investigation into the incident, as well as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare for constituting a panel of inquiry.

The meeting also resolved that all parties should refrain from further media exchanges capable of escalating tensions or prejudicing ongoing engagements.

All health sector unions agreed, in the overriding interest of public health and industrial harmony, to suspend the strike action after consultation with their congresses.

A liaison committee comprising representatives of the state government, UUTH management, the EFCC and health sector unions is to be constituted to monitor the implementation of the resolutions reached and prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.

UUTH vs EFCC: Health unions call off strike as Akwa Ibom Govt intervenes

Gunshots on Monday rocked some wards in the Ondo Central Senatorial District in Ondo State during the senatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, following the invasion of the venues by suspected political thugs.

The thugs suspected to be loyal to one of the aspirants in the district stormed Ward 5 Okelisa, Amudipe Street, Akure, the state capital, where they attacked supporters of of the senator representing the district, Adeniyi Adegbomire.

Adegbomire, who is also seeking the ticket of the party, escaped from the scene where his vehicle was shot at by the thugs.

The thugs shot sporadically into the air and as well shot at the senator’s vehicle, who was whisked always from the scene by his security personnel.

Journalists covering the exercise, pupils of Ebenezer Primary School, and traders within the vicinity, were forced to scamper for safety as gunshots rocked the axis.

The assailants also wielded machetes, attacking voters and disrupting the counting processes at the ward.

Speaking to journalists, Adegbomire said the exercise was deliberately sabotaged.

Stating that the process was already favouring him, he alleged that the thugs were deployed to prevent his supporters from accessing the wards.

He said, “It’s a charade. It is a complete charade. I went to my ward, Okilisa Ward 5, Akure South Local Government today. today is the Senate primaries for the APC. I was there.

“And whilst we were there, they told everybody to line up and they started counting. They counted my supporters who were voting for me. It was about 360. They started counting that of Taiwo Fasoranti because there were three lines. Mine was in the middle. Taiwo Fasoranti’s own was to the right. Adu’s own was to the left.

“Then they started counting Taiwo Fasoranti’s own. When it was glaring to them that I think it got about a hundred and something – thugs came and invaded the place. Shot in the air, shot at my car. I can show you the bullet mark.

They started trying to machete people. Beating people up. They disrupted the entire process.

“Now, that is not even bad enough. I am getting reports from all over the senatorial district that the same thing is happening. And that they are not allowing my supporters to even get onto the field. They are saying that if you are not going to vote for Fasoranti, go back to your house. They have hired thugs to intimidate people.”

Senator escapes death as gunshots rock APC primaries in Ondo